| Once upon a time, Scottish castles were associated | | | | you have the makings of a movie set. |
| with wild chieftains exacting brutal retribution on their | | | | Obviously most of these homes are deserted during |
| neighbours and crofters. Then came the age of | | | | the winter months but come summer and private jets |
| enlightenment, which saw the Scottish aristocracy | | | | are plopping down in every small airport throughout the |
| trying to emulate their English neighbours and become | | | | country. A few gleaming range rovers will be on hand |
| a little more refined. This led to a lot of new properties | | | | to whisk up the guests and within an hour or two, |
| being built of a less defensive nature and with more | | | | everyone will be lying on the heather with a wee dram |
| emphasis on comfort and elegance. The arrival of | | | | in one hand and a smoke salmon sandwich in the |
| Queen Victoria for her long period of mourning, further | | | | other. It's intoxicating stuff for urban types and there is |
| heightened the desirability of a Scottish home and | | | | no danger of some annoying Russian screaming past |
| many large ones were built during this period, | | | | in his Ferrari or some helicopter buzzing overhead. Of |
| incorporating new inventions like heating and electric | | | | course, guests can easily get bored, so some form of |
| light. | | | | 'retail therapy' is vital and the local cashmere outlets |
| Sadly for much of the early part of the 20th century, | | | | are happy to help out. |
| there followed a period of decline, as the great estates | | | | Grouse shooting and salmon fishing once the preserve |
| struggled to maintain their noble homes and were | | | | of the upper classes is now being enjoyed by clientele |
| either broken up or fell into disrepair. Fortunately by the | | | | of all stripes and in any case new owners of large |
| eighties a new renaissance was emerging and this | | | | piles are quick to don their tweed suits and present |
| combined with greater prosperity led to a period of | | | | themselves as lairds of long standing. This is perfectly |
| recovery & rebirth for a lot of these wonderful homes. | | | | natural and has been witnessed by the locals for |
| It took a while for some of the older families to raise | | | | centuries. What is wonderful for Scotland is the huge |
| the huge sums required to restore their crumbling | | | | amounts of money poured into the local economy by |
| homes but it was slowly achieved, often with some aid | | | | these 'Chelsea' Highlanders. They head north and not |
| from government bodies. Newcomers with deeper | | | | only help preserve these old homes but through a |
| pockets were able to achieve results quicker and now | | | | multitude of suppliers, they keep a lot of shops and |
| it is all the rage to own and restore a huge pile. | | | | other companies busy, as well as employing a lot of |
| Throughout the country, homes that twenty years ago | | | | local people to help look after the properties |
| you could hardly give away are now selling for millions. | | | | themselves. |
| Add on to this the huge refurbishment cost and indeed | | | | Absentee landlords are often much criticised but in |
| the massive upkeep costs and you have an | | | | fact they are essential and need to be encouraged. |
| expensive 'second' or in many cases 'third' home! | | | | They pump funds into rural and often poor parts of the |
| However demand has never been higher and finding | | | | country and take on properties that are not financially |
| suitable properties is now extremely hard. Of course, | | | | viable at all. They are of course 'living a dream' but life |
| anyone can stay in a luxury hotel, charter a huge | | | | is all about fulfilling ones dreams and if wealthy folk |
| yacht but not everyone can hire a 500 year old castle, | | | | from all over the world find romance and happiness in |
| surrounded by several thousand acres and boasting | | | | maintaining a little bit of our heritage, well then we |
| private shooting, fishing and total seclusion. Throw in a | | | | should encourage them. It is a great era for Scotland's |
| few battlements, ghosts and old family retainers and | | | | ancestral houses & castles and it's wonderful to see. |